Legislation Archive
Session Summaries
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2023 - Fifty-sixth Legislature - First Regular Session
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2022 - Fifty-fifth Legislature - Second Regular Session
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2021 - Fifty-fifth Legislature - First Regular Session
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2020 - Fifty-fourth Legislature - Second Regular Session
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2019 - Fifty-fourth Legislature - First Regular Session
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2018 - Fifty-third Legislature - Second Regular Session
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2017 – Fifty-third Legislature – First Regular Session
Bill Archive
HB 2278: Well drilling; groundwater basins
In Brief: Establishes a well drilling moratorium in the Upper San Pedro and Verde Valley sub basins
Sponsor(s): Cano
Last Action: Was never heard in committee.
Description: Establishes a well drilling moratorium that prevents new wells in the Upper San Pedro and Verde Valley groundwater subbasins until the conclusion of the General Stream Adjudication unless a well is a replacement well or does not pump subflow. AMWUA adopted a “Monitor” position on this legislation in the 2020, 2021, and 2022 sessions.
HB 2323: Water augmentation fund; brackish groundwater
In Brief: Characterizes brackish groundwater desalination as an importation project for WIFA funding.
Sponsor(s): Kolodin & 4 others
Last Action: Was never heard in committee.
Description: Currently, WIFA’s Long-Term Water Augmentation (LTWA) Fund carries a stipulation that 75% of the monies must be spent on a water supply development project that imports water from outside of Arizona. HB 2323 modifies the statutes to characterize brackish groundwater desalination as an importation project for the purposes of being eligible for this funding. Brackish groundwater desalination would already be eligible for the other 25% of LTWA Fund monies without this statutory change.
HB 2372: Colorado River water transfers; limit
In Brief: Prohibits transfers of Colorado River P4 entitlements from on-river communities
Sponsor(s): Biasiucci, Gillette, Borrelli
Last Action: Was never heard in committee.
Description: This bill prohibits transfers of Colorado River P4 entitlements from La Paz County, Mohave County, and Yuma County to other areas of the state. The pending Queen Creek transfer is exempted from this prohibition. This language was introduced in 2022 as a strike-everything amendment that faced lawmaker concerns and opposition from CAP and the development community. Additional legislative intent language has been added that characterizes transfers as an attempt to circumvent “Colorado River water reductions by replacing those reductions with transferred water.”
HB 2376: Agricultural land; foreign ownership; prohibition
In Brief: Prohibits the Arizona State Land Department from leasing agricultural state lands to an entity that is a foreign government
Sponsor(s): Biasiucci & 9 others
Last Action: Was never heard in Senate committee.
Description: Prohibits the Arizona State Land Department from leasing or subleasing agricultural state lands to an entity that is a foreign government or is a subsidiary of a foreign government. This legislation is a response to the reports of Fondomonte, a Saudi Arabian company, growing alfalfa for export on state lands with no pumping restrictions.
HB 2406: Water treatment facilities; loan repayment
In Brief: Removes the statutory requirement that cities and towns larger than 150,000 are required to hold an election to receive approval for a WIFA loan.
Sponsor(s): Terech
Last Action: Was never heard in committee.
Description: Removes the statutory requirement that cities and towns larger than 150,000 are required to hold an election to receive approval for a WIFA loan. The election requirement is an unnecessary stipulation as municipal loan agreements go before publicly elected city councils. The requirement causes additional delays and expenses for cities that seek federal infrastructure funds, and only impacts municipalities above the 150,000-person threshold. AMWUA ran this legislation in 2022, and SB 1079 has been introduced on AMWUA’s behalf by Senator Shope.
SB 1079: Water treatment facilities; loan repayment
In Brief: Removes the statutory requirement that cities and towns larger than 150,000 are required to hold an election to receive approval for a WIFA loan.
Sponsor(s): Shope
Last Action: Was never heard in committee.
Description: Removes the statutory requirement that cities and towns larger than 150,000 are required to hold an election to receive approval for a WIFA loan. The election requirement is an unnecessary stipulation as municipal loan agreements go before publicly elected city councils. The requirement causes additional delays and expenses for cities that seek federal infrastructure funds, and only impacts municipalities above the 150,000-person threshold. AMWUA ran this legislation in 2022, and SB 1079 has been introduced on AMWUA’s behalf by Senator Shope.
HB 2438: Board of supervisors; powers; water
In Brief: Expands the authorities of a County Board of Supervisors to participate in water reuse and recharge programs
Sponsor(s): Griffin
Last Action: Passed Senate RULES on March 27th.
Description: Expands the authorities of a County Board of Supervisors to allow participation “in water reuse and recycling programs and regional wastewater recharge projects and related infrastructure.” Similar legislation was introduced last session on behalf of the Pinal County Board of Supervisors.
HB 2442: Temporary non-expansion area
In Brief: Establishes procedures for the creation of a “temporary non-expansion area” (TNA) that prohibits irrigation of new acreage for 5 years
Sponsor(s): Griffin
Last Action: Passed Senate RULES on March 27th.
Description: This bill establishes procedures for the creation of a “temporary non-expansion area” (TNA) that prohibits irrigation of new acreage for a period of 5 years. To establish a TNA, at least 50% of “irrigation users of groundwater” or 10% of registered voters residing within the groundwater basin must submit a petition to the ADWR Director. After ADWR holds a public hearing on the TNA, the establishment of the TNA will be determined by election of all registered voters within the proposed boundaries. A majority of voters must approve the formation of the TNA for the regulations to take effect.
HB 2443: Navigable stream adjudication commission; extension
In Brief: Extends the legislative authorization for the Arizona Navigable Stream Adjudication Commission (ANSAC) for four years to June 30, 2028
Sponsor(s): Griffin
Last Action: Passed Senate RULES on March 20th.
Description: This bill extends the legislative authorization for the Arizona Navigable Stream Adjudication Commission (ANSAC) for four years to June 30, 2028. The ANSAC is charged with determining which of Arizona’s rivers and streams were navigable at time of statehood. If determined to be navigable at time of statehood, the land beneath the watercourse is subject to ownership by the State to be held in public trust. If non-navigable, the watercourse is subject to ownership by the person whose property it crosses. The commission is scheduled to sunset on June 30, 2024.
HB 2445: S/e subdivisions; leased properties exemption; emergency
In Brief: Expand applicability of the Assured Water Supply Program to “build-to-rent” developments.
Sponsor(s): Griffin
Last Action: Passed Senate RULES on April 10th.
Description: The intent of HB 2445 is to expand applicability of the Assured Water Supply Program to “build-to-rent” developments that often exploit Assured Water Supply Program loopholes. The bill accomplishes this by changing the definition of a sub-division to include “Six or more detached single family residences that are constructed or proposed to be constructed for the purpose of sale or lease”. This bill passed Senate NREW on March 30, 2023 with an amendment that adds the building permit language from SB 1432. The amendment also clarifies that the person must apply and obtain a certificate for assured water supply and apply to the CAGRD.